If you’re like most homeowners, then you probably tend to rely on your water heater on a very consistent basis. From dishwashing to laundry needs, hot water plays an important role in many day to day activities. And perhaps the most significant function of a hot water heater is to enable people to shower in a manner that is soothing and comforting. (After all, imagine having to wake up every morning and have nothing to look forward to but a cold, harsh stream of shower water?)
Clearly, no home is complete without a decent water heater. So if yours seems to be on its way out, then you’re going to need to do something about it, and fast. Even a few days without hot water can make home life extremely unpleasant, and unless you’re comfortable with the notion of replacing your daily shower with an extra layer of deodorant, you’re going to want to address your water heater issue before it truly starts to take a toll.
As is the case with any type of household appliance, when it comes to water heater problems, it can be difficult to know whether it makes sense to pay for repairs or replace your unit in its entirety. Blair Harris is the director of Sales and Marketing at A&R Mechanical Services, a locally owned, full service Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning company that has been serving the Amarillo, Texas area since 1992, and according to her, the average water heater only has a certain reasonable lifespan. While the exact extent of longevity can vary from model to model, most water heaters can be expected to last anywhere from 10 to 12 years. Therefore, if your unit falls within or close to this particular age range, then you’re probably best off replacing it. Rather than pump money into something that might only have one or two good years left in it, you ought to consider using those funds to pay for a new water heater that will serve you better than a dying unit, and for a longer period of time.
So what signs should you look for to determine whether or not your water heater truly needs to be replaced? According to Harris, the signals are fairly obvious. If your water heater doesn’t seem to be doing the basic job of providing enough hot water for you to take a reasonably timed shower, then chances are, the unit has got to go. Additionally, if your hot water starts sporting a new, rust-colored tint, then that’s a good indication that you have a serious problem brewing. Finally, if you happen to notice pooling or flooding in the area where your water heater is located, then take it as a sign that you might have a major issue on your hands, and one that you ought to get rid of in favor of a brand new model.
While the idea of replacing your water heater might sound financially burdensome, consider the fact that there are certain advantages to doing so. For starters, a new water heater might do a much better job than your current unit at catering to your household’s needs. If you’re tired of spacing out those showers to accommodate the limited capacity of your water heater, then a larger replacement model might end up improving your day to day qualify of life. Additionally, a new water heater is likely to function far more efficiently than an older model – a fact that can translate into added energy savings over time. Therefore, when you think about forking over a lump sum to purchase a new water heater, consider the fact that your replacement unit might come with its own unique method of payback. Finally, if you’re looking to make your home more energy efficient, then you might as well use the state of your slowly malfunctioning water heater as an excuse to replace it with a new, energy-efficient model. Not only will this move save you money on your utility bills, it might also result in a generous tax credit courtesy of the U.S. government.
Regardless of how old your water heater actually is, once you begin to suspect that it might be broken or failing, you should get in touch with a plumbing professional as soon as reasonably possible. As tempting as it might be to sit back and wait things out to avoid having to pay for outside services, by doing so, you could end up in a fair amount of hot – make that freezing cold – water. Remember, when it comes to household items, nothing lasts forever, and it’s better to treat yourself to a new, efficient water heater than to suffer the consequences of having to live with a dying unit that can no longer do its job.
